Improvement in peat-molding machines



UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrca JEA-N FRANQOIS BOUQUET AND VICTOR ALEXIS BENARD, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEAT-MOLDING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,300, dated March 2, 1875; application filed October 30, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JEAN FRANQOIS Boo- QUET and VICTOR ALExIs BENARD, of Paris, France, have invented a new and Improved Peat-Molding Machine; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to an improved machine for molding peat that has been crushed and mixed or reduced to a homogeneous con dition in a grinding or other mill of suitable construction.

The peat thus prepared is received into a hopper, box, or casing above a set of traveling molds, formed chiefly of a series of suitably-articulated plates, said molds being revolved by and around polygonal drums, and the peat being thus formed into blocks, and deposited on the ground or other surface.

The molding-machine travels along a rack or toothed rail, whereby the peat-blocks are laid regularly close together in a row, as hereinafter described.

Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view, of our improved molder.

The case or body A of the molder is constructed of wood, or sheet or plate iron, or any other preferred material, and mounted 011 wheels, to adapt it to travel over the surface on which the molded peat-blocks are to be deposited. One or both the wheels B on one side of the molder are cogged to mesh with the toothed rail B, along which the machine is made to travel by means of the crank-shaft O, a counter-shaft, D, arranged beneath it, and a belt, E, which connects the shaft 1) and front axle F. The shafts O and D have their hearings in bars or frame-work G, rigidly connected with the body A of the molder, and are provided with meshing gears a e, as shown. The belt E passes around pulleys on shaft D and axle F.

The chief element of the molding mechanism proper is an endless chain, formed of transverse plates H, articulated by means of links I, which form also the sides of each rectangular mold-space. This chain passes over the sheet-metal'bottom of the molder, and around polygonal drums K L, which are arranged to revolve on axes contiguous and parallel to the front and rear axles, respectivelv.

Motion is imparted to the drum K, and thus to the endless chain and the drum L, from the front axle F. To this end said axle has a pinion, i, which meshes with a spurgear, 0, mounted on a short spindle projecting from the lever H, which is pivoted on or contiguous to the axle F, and its rear end is held in a keeper, N. The gear 0 is made to mesh with the gear 1) on the end of the shaft of drum K, when the lever is raised to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it may be held by a pin, 1".

It is obvious that, when the lever H is in the position indicated by full lines, the molder (either empty or filled with peat) may be run on the track B back to the place of supply, or out to the place of deposit of the blocks, without imparting motion to the molding mechanism properto wit, the endless chain and polygonal drumssince said mechanism is not in gear with the crank-shaft G, except when the lever H is in the elevated position.

WVhen the gear connection is made and the crank-shaft revolved, the endless chain moves in the direction indicated by the arrowi. 6., opposite the direction in which the molder progresses.

The peat fills the molds or mold-spaces in the chain by its own gravity, and the blocks of peat are compressed somewhat by the action of the chain, particularly while passing over the apron or bottom P of the molder. They are pushed off the end of the apron upon the ground or other surface, and laid in a row, as shown in the drawing at W.

What we claim is- 1. The combination, with the stationary toothed rail laid upon a suitable horizontal surface, of a toothed wheel, B, meshing therewith, the axle F, a crank-shaft, G, the molding-case or hopper A, the drums K L, articula-ted molding-chain, and gearing for connectand gearing for imparting motion to the wheel ing the said axle, shaft, and drums, substan- 0, as shown and described.

tiaily as shown and described, for the purpose JEAN FRANQOIS BOUQUET.

specified. VICTOR ALEXIS BENARD.

2. The combination of pivoted lever H, Witnesses:

the spur-wheel 0, mounted thereon, with the CHARLES DESNOS,

wheel 2, drums K and. L, the endless chain, ADOLPHE GUION. 

